A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume II, Part 114

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press
Number of Pages: 680

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume II > Part 114

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"Sir .- Relying with great confidence on your Zeal and Activity, I have thought proper, to charge you, with the defence of this very important Post, and when you con- sider the extent of my Confidence, which bears an exact proportion to the greatness of the Trust, I flatter myself, that every manly Motive will intimately interest you in its defence. Your Conduct will be regulated by the following orders -

" Immediately after my leaving this Post, you will turn your attention to its Secur- ity. You will have the Abattis repaired, and any other Improvement made, which may tend to strengthen the Works. A subaltern and 25 Men must be immediately thrown into the little Work, # with positive injunctions to be vigilant, and not to suffer his Men to straggle, but to keep his Force collected. You must be convinced of the necessity of this, as well as of the propriety (should the enemy approach ) of removing such Houses as wd interrupt your line of Fire, or favor their Attack. You will have Sentries in advance of each flank of your Works, and Patroles will tend greatly to prevent a surprize. Should this duty be rather fatiguing, small Fires, built at some distance from your Works, will, in cloudy Nights, enable your Sentries to distinguish an Enemy at a very considerable Distance. The Inhabitants will (no doubt) if call'd upon, contribute their Assistance to your support, as their future Existence in a great measure depends upon it. You will, if necessary, make the Experiment, and in short you are to practice every Precaution which a Garrison expos'd as this is, can for its safety require.

"In addition to the above orders, you are hereby instructed to favor the Passage of all Letters, Cloathing, &c., which may hereafter arrive, or in future be directed to me; so far as it can be done, with that Prudence which I have heretofore recommended to you. I wish you likewise to collect as much Forage as possible, of every kind, and you will

* See "Pennsylvania Arehives," First Series, VII : 596.

¿ The original letter is now in the possession of the present writer.

The "Sullivan Redoubt," situated on the erest of the ridge, north-east of the town-plot of Wilkes-Barré, as deseribed on page 1194.

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keep the Saw-Mill constantly employ'd in cutting Plank with which you will repair the Meeting House* as an Hospital for such soldiers as are incapable of Duty.

"Thus far I have thought advisable to instruct you. But as it is impossible to enumerate every particular of your Duty, and local Circumstances must in a great meas- ure determine it, I rely much on your Prudence, and sincerely wish you an agreeable Command.

[Signed] "JNO. SULLIVAN, Maj. Gen."

" To Colonel BUTLER.

During the whole of the morning of Saturday, July 31st, every departinent of the army at Wilkes-Barré was busy with preparations for the advance northward. The completing of the loading of the boats aid pack-horses occupied a good deal of time and employed a large num- ber of men, and the work was very fatiguing. There were 1,220 pack- horses, allotted as follows : Twenty for the use of the Commander-in- Chief and his staff ; 300 for Maxwell's brigade; 300 for Poor's brigade ; 200 for Hand's brigade; 100 for Procter's regiment, and 300 for the public stores-all in charge of a corps of "conductors," under the direc- tion of Col. William Bond of New Jersey. In addition, of course, to these horses were those ridden by the various mounted officers of the Expedition. The boats, 214 in number, f were loaded with the guns of the artillery regiment, ammunition, salted provisions, liquors, heavy bag- gage, and all the flour-excepting some carried in kegs on the pack- horses-required for the Expedition. This fleet was manned by the men of Colonel Procter's regiment, 250 soldiers detailed from other regi- inents, and 450 enlisted boatmen, and the boats were propelled against the current of the river by these men with the aid of setting-poles. Col- onel Procter was in command of the fleet.

According to orders issued by General Sullivan on July 25th the line of march of the ariny was fixed as follows : General Hand's bri- gade, acting as light-troops, to move in three columns and keep about a inile aliead of the main body of troops. General Maxwell's brigade to advance with its right in front, to be followed by General Poor's bri- gade with its left in front. The pack-horses and cattle to follow in the rear of General Poor's brigade. The flank-guard on the right of the column to consist of a field-officer, and 200 men in two divisions. The flank-guard on the left to consist of a Captain, and sixty men in two divisions. The rear guard to consist of a complete regiment, taken one day from Maxwell's brigade and the next day from Poor's-and thus alternating during the progress of the Expedition. (It was the duty of this guard to look after straggling men and cattle.) The main body of the army was ordered to keep as nearly abreast of the fleet as possible ; and the horns, with which the boats were provided, were to be frequently sounded, in order to give notice of the location of the boats. It was ordered that a Captain and sixty men should advance a mile in front of the boats on the west, or right, bank of the river, to scour the country and give notice of ambuscades. In case of their being attacked by a superior force they were to retreat across the river ; and, to enable them to do this, four light boats were to keep ahead of the fleet, nearly abreast of the members of the party. These boats were to be manned by a trusty officer and twelve armed soldiers, who were " to be answerable for their conduct."

* This was a small and unpretentious frame edifice, which stood in the south-west corner of the public grave-yard in Wilkes-Barre- on the spot where the City Hall is now located. It was erected there in 1773, and was only partly destroyed when the village was burned by the British and Indians in July, 1778.

¡ See "Pennsylvania Archives," Second Series, IV : 557.

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Two Captains, six subalterns and 100 rank and file were ordered to remain at Wilkes-Barre to constitute the Wyoming garrison, under the command of Col. Zebulon Butler. This left an effective force of from 3,200 to 3,400 inen-including officers, boatmen and " conductors "-to set off up the river ; a force smaller, by several hundred men, than it had been all along intended and expected by both Washington and Sullivan should compose the main division of the army. With the Expedition marched, as a part of Hand's brigade, the Westmoreland Independent Company (commanded by Capt. Simon Spalding), in the Continental service, and a company of Westmoreland militia organized for the occasion and commanded by Capt. John Franklin. The latter company numbered only a few men, and, so far as is known, there is no roll of the organization now in existence. During the greater part of the campaign Captain Franklin, together with Lieut. John Jenkins, Jr., of Spalding's company, and "Captain" Jehoiakim, the Mohegan Indian previously mentioned, served in the important capacity of a guide. Lieut. Obadiah Gore, Jr., Serg't Asa Chapman, Corporal Thomas Park, and the other men of the 3d Regiment, Connecticut Line, mentioned in the second paragraph on page 834 as being on duty at the Wyoming post in 1779, also took part in the Expedition.

On the eve of leaving Wilkes-Barre General Sullivan made a requi- sition on the Board of War for clothing, stores, etc., which were greatly needed for his arıny. This reached the Board about the 2d of August, and drew forth a letter to Congress, written under the date of August 4, 1779, by Col. Timothy Pickering, in behalf of the Board. At that time no member of the Board had yet seen a copy of the General Order issued by General Sullivan at Wilkes-Barré, July 21, 1779. (See page 1196.) In his communication to the Congress Colonel Pick- ering recited in detail the various requisitions which had been made by General Sullivan, and stated how far the Board had honored them. He then wrote :

" General Sullivan has now made a demand of 1,000 blankets and 5,000 shirts, which at present 'tis not possible to comply with. Could we have formed any certain judgment of the quantity of clothing requisite for General Sullivan's army, we should have spared no pains to supply it. * *

* Moreover, General Sullivan's demands being usually on a large scale, we deemed some caution necessary in granting him supplies. He asked for 1,000 spare muskets at a time we had but a single one in store. We com- municated the matter to General Washington, at the same time informing him that we had some time before ordered 200 stand of spare arms and accouterments complete for the troops under General Sullivan ; and these his Excellency, in his answer, judged ade- quate to the service."

Everything being in readiness at Wilkes-Barré for the advance of the army, a cannon was fired at Fort Wyoming at noon of July 31st as a signal for the troops to set out. General Hand's brigade was imine- diately put in motion, and marched in the following order : The 11th Pennsylvania Regiment and Captain Spalding's company constituted a column to march on the main road (the present North Main Street) lead- ing northward from the town-plot of Wilkes-Barré. The German Regi- ment and Schott's Independent Corps (the latter temporarily commanded by Capt. Anthony Selin) formed the right column, and marched on the right of the first-mentioned, or center, column. The right flank of the right column was covered by one-third of the light-infantry of the 11th Regiment, and all the riflemen of Schott's Corps, marching in single file, and the whole commanded by Captain Schott ; while two-thirds of the light-infantry of the "11th," and all the riflemen of Spalding's com-

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pany, marched in single file on the left flank of the center column, and answered the purpose of a third column. Sixty men, under Capt. Wil- liam Gifford of the 3d New Jersey Regiment, marched on the west, or right, bank of the river, abreast of Hand's brigade and a mile in front of the boats, as ordered.

About one o'clock in the afternoon the firing of a cannon from Col- onel Procter's flag-boat, " The Adventure," was the signal for the boats of the fleet to weigh anchor. "In a few moments the whole of the main body of the army was in motion, with flags flying, drums beating, fifes screaming, and Colonel Procter's regimental band playing a lively air. Passing the fort, a salute of thirteen guns was fired, which was answered by a like number from the fleet." In pursuance of the orders previously mentioned General Maxwell's brigade marched first, followed by Gen- eral Poor's-each in column formation. Then came the pack-horses of the Expedition, strung along for a distance of a mile; and then came a drove of 600 or 700 beef cattle. The 1st New Jersey Regiment (com- manded by Col. Matthias Ogden) constituted the rear-guard for the first. day's march.

The route pursued by the center column of Hand's brigade, and by the main column of the army, was the highway running from Wilkes- Barré to Pittston. According to the maps of Lieutenant Lodge (previ- ously mentioned) the road was a continuation of Main Street in the town-plot of Wilkes-Barré. It crossed Mill Creek, by a bridge, about a mile from the Susquehanna, and then, at a distance ranging from one- quarter to three-quarters of a mile from the Susquehanna, ran a course generally north-north-east to the Lackawanna River. At a distance of four miles from Fort Wyoming (near the present village of Plainsville) the road crossed the little brook described on page 213, Vol. I. Chap- lain Rogers, describing this day's march in his journal, says :

"The country we came through to-day, though generally a wilderness, affords a pleasing prospect of great improvement in a future day. We passed several plantations [on Jacob's Plains], with no houses of any kind standing-being all burnt by the enemy. From the road we occasionally saw the river, which excited agreeable sensations. Cross- ing Lackawanick Creek, which is in breadth about sixty yards, and fordable at all times of the year, we encamped for the night near the same, on a beautiful plain -- having marched from Wilkesbarre ten miles, and reaching the plain between the hours of five and six."

Lieut. Colonel Hubley made the following entry in his journal relative to the march of July 31st.

"I was struck on this day's march with the ruins of many houses, chiefly built of logs, and uninhabited. * * Arrived at a most beautiful plain, covered with an abundance of grass, through which runs a delightful stream of water known by the name of Lackawanna. Crossed the stream, and encamped about one mile on the northern side of it-advanced [i. e. the "light-troops " about one half mile in front of the main body."

Tretch of the Encampment at Lackawannay

mountains ,

mountain

While the head of the army arrived at the camping-place at Lackawanna about five o'clock

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in the afternoon, the rear-guard did not reach there until nine o'clock the next morning.

The illustration on the opposite page is a reduced photo-reproduc- tion of an original sketch of the Lackawanna encampment made by Col- onel Hubley at the time. (See page 1192.) In the Susquehanna, near the head of Scovell's Island, the fleet of boats is noted. Opposite the center of the fleet, on the left bank of the river, the letters " H. Q." indicate General Sullivan's headquarters. Then, to the right, is seen the loca- tion of the camp of the light-troops, or Hand's brigade, and then the camps of the brigades of Generals Maxwell and Poor. On the right bank of the river, nearly opposite Campbell's Ledge (see page 47, Vol. I), the camping-place of Captain Gifford's "party of sixty men" is noted, with their boats lying near by in the river. A chain of sentinels was stationed around the entire encampment on the left bank of the river. Owing to the fact that some of the boats were not properly loaded, and that it was difficult to get the majority of all the boats past the rapids known as "Wyoming Falls " (see page 36, Vol. I), the last of them did not reach the mouth of the Lackawanna until about two o'clock in the afternoon of Sunday, August 1st. Two boats-one loaded with ammu- nition and the other with provisions-were sunk at the "Falls," but their contents were saved.

At three o'clock in the afternoon of the 1st, upon the firing of a cannon, the tents of the army were struck and the march was continued. The route of the marchers lay along the base of Campbell's Ledge, through the narrows beyond, and then onward to a large, level and open tract of land near the river, known as Quilutimack,* where formerly there had been an Indian settlement. The distance was about seven miles from the previous camping-ground, but as the way was rough the march was attended with many difficulties. Several of the pack-horses gave out, while the packs on many others kept continually falling off, scattering the contents all along the path. A considerable number of the flour kegs burst, and the flour was lost. The boats all arrived in good order and time at Quilutimack, but the rear-guard (Colonel Cilley's regiment) did not arrive at the camping-ground until after sunrise on August 2d. Orders having been issued for the continuance of the camp at that place over the 2d, the light-troops began their inarch at six o'clock in the inorning of the 3d, and the inain body set off at seven. The march this day covered twelve miles, and is described by Chaplain Rogers in his journal in these words :

" The major part of the way we met with trifling difficulties. We had to encounter a few bad places, such as swamps, steep hills and thickets; however, in comparison with Sunday's march, it deserves the appellation of excellent. On an exceedingly high spot we had the pleasure of viewing many adjacent mountains. * * Tunkhannunk is a beautiful creek eight poles in breadth. The place where we crossed it, about three-quar- ters of a mile from the Susquehannah, into which it empties, was very rapid. On the path along which we came, and on each side of it as far as we could see, wild grass had grown in abundance. * * * The country all along abounds with snakes-particu- larly the rattlesnake and blacksnake. At two o'clock P. M. we arrived at Tunkhannunk, and encamped on the banks of the Susquehannalı, about a mile from where we crossed the creek of the same name."

The camping-ground of the light-corps at Tunkhannock was near the abandoned plantation of Adam Wortman, imentioned on page 948. The army was again in motion at five o'clock in the morning of August 4tlı, and inoved up the river for three miles-" chiefly on the beachi, * Mentioned on page 813, and now known as Keeler's.

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close under an almost inaccessible mountain." They then ascended the same with great difficulty, and continued along on it for nearly seven miles. The march Fetch of Fankhanmunk Encampment. this day covered about fourteen miles, and the 6 main body of the army went into camp on the abandoned plantation of Frederick Vanderlip (a Tory, who had joined But- ler's Rangers, as herein- 42 before mentioned), while the light-troops encamped about a mile farther up the river on the abandoned farm of one Williamson. By reason of the boats not arriving at the encamp- ment until late in the morning of August 5th, the SKETCH OF THE TUNKHANNOCK ENCAMPMENT. (From Colonel Hubley's journal.) light-troops did not march until half past eight o'clock.

In his journal Chaplain Rogers describes the march of the light-troops on August 5th, as follows :

" We soon entered another defile, or narrows, three-quarters of a mile in length. Leaving the narrows we ascended a steep but short hill, and traveled over a con- siderable open part of the country-the land in some places very indifferent, in others rich and fit for meadow. * * After we left this height, having marched over a low and swampy piece of ground, we came to Wyalusing Mountain. The ascent was gradual, and at the top we had a pleasing view of the Susquehannah. * * From the top of the

mountain the plains of Wyalusing settlement are also visible. *

* The mountain is two miles over. On reaching the foot we entered a thicket containing the largest trees of the sycamore, or button-wood, kind my eyes ever beheld-being in circumference (take one with another) between twenty and thirty feet, and in diameter between nine and twelve feet. Notwithstanding these trees the bottom is called Sugar Bottom, on account of the sugar-maple. * * On the mountain and in the bottom we saw several spots where the Indians had encamped. Fresh Indian tracks were discovered, and one of their canoes was taken by Mr. Lodge [the Geographer] ; also, by some of our soldiers, a raft with a pair of moccasins. An engagement was expected throughout the day; but, granting that the enemy had a fair view of us-of which we had not the least doubt- they suffered us to pass unmolested, notwithstanding the many advantageous posts they might have occupied in annoying us. From the foot of the mountain to Wyalusing the distance is one and a-half miles.

"Wyalusing, which we reached in good season, consists of about 1.000 acres of clear land, amazingly fertile and containing beds of extraordinary fine English grass. Since the present contest the town, which was inhabited by Moravian Indians," has been partly destroyed by our people and partly by the Indians. It contained upwards of eighty good square log houses, and a fine ornaniented Moravian church in the center, with a bell. The minister resided in the town ; there was also a tavern and other public buildings-all of which, without exception, were demolished or rafted down the Susquehannah. No sign of even the smallest hut was left standing. *

* On this fine, open plain, like a bed of down, the main army encamped. The light-troops marched a mile farther on, contiguous to an excellent spring, the place abounding with good pasture and distant front the river about half a mile, where we made our fires and took up our abode for the night. * * Wyalusing plains are exactly fifty miles from Wyoming, agreeably to the actual survey of Mr. Lodge."

In the afternoon of August 9th the army arrived at the upper plains of Sheshequin, on the left bank of the Susquehanna, and, erecting their tents, remained there until the morning of August 11th. In the mean-

* See page 733, ante.

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time General Sullivan, accompanied by his three Brigadiers and escorted by two regiments of troops, reconnoitered the country in the vicinity of Tioga Point .* Agreeably to orders the army moved at eight o'clock in the morning of the 11th, the usual formation being adhered to. Says Lieut. Colonel Hubley in his journal :

"The light-corps moved half an hour before the main army, and took post on the banks of the river near the fording place. On the arrival of the main army and boats, Colonel Forrestt drew up his boat at the fording place and fixed several 6-pounders on the opposite shore, in order to scour the woods and thickets and prevent any ambuscade from taking place. In the meantime the light-corps marched by platoons, linked together, on account of the rapidity of the water, and forded the same, and effected a landing about nine o'clock. They immediately advanced about 100 yards from the river and formed in line of battle, in order to cover the landing of the main army, which was safely effected about ten o'clock A. M., after which came on pack-horses, cattle, etc., covered by a regi- ment which composed the rear-guard. Previous to our arrival on the [Tioga] Flatst we had to pass about one and a-half miles through a dark, difficult swamp, which was cov- ered with weeds and considerable underwood, interspersed with large timber, chiefly but- tonwood. We then entered the flats near the place on which Queen Esther's palace stood, ¿ and was destroyed by Colonel Hartley's detachment last Fall. * * We continued along the same for about one mile, and arrived at the entrance of Tioga Branch into the Sus- quehanna about one o'clock. We crossed the same and landed on a peninsula of land (which extends towards Chemung, and is bounded on the east by the Susquehanna and on the west by the Tioga Branch), and continued up the same for about two miles and a-half and encaniped."

Chaplain Rogers gives in his journal the following account of the march of the army from Sheshequin to Tioga Point.

" Proceeding about one mile and a-half we arrived at a fording place on the Sus- quehannah unknown to any of our guides, but found out on the preceding day by the General officers. The troops, pursuant to orders, taking off their overalls and tying them about their necks, crossed in platoons, under cover of the fleet, each soldier grasping the hand of his comrade next to him for support. The current being strong, and the water for a considerable distance coming up to the middles of the men, some considerable difficulties were encountered ; but notwithstanding every impediment the whole body got over without suffering any peculiar disadvantage. General Hand, in order to animate his brigade, dismounted and marched through on foot at the head of his soldiers. Such an army, crossing a river with so much regularity at a place so rapid, and in width 330 yards, afforded the spectator a pleasing sight, and must have struck our enemies with awe. I must doubt whether the army of Alexander the Great encountered as many difficulties with as much good humor as ours has evinced.

" The river being forded, we entered upon what is properly called the Indian coun- try. * * The army being formed as usual we proceeded, sometimes in single files, and then in double, through a thicket, till we entered those beautiful plains where the Tioga Branch unites itself with the main river. On this level spot stood Queen Esther's palace, burned by Colonel Hartley last Fall. Over those plains our army inarched towards the mouth of the Tioga in order of battle, the light-troops being joined by two 3-pounders from the regiment of artillery. The view of this was grand beyond description, as the ground for a great circuit was level, and the grass high and green. Drums were beating, fifes playing, colors flying. Getting to the mouth of the Tioga we found it in width 142

yards, and the water much deeper than had been imagined. * * Possessing ourselves of the north side of the Tioga, and passing through a swampy piece of ground, we entered upon other plains, pleasing to the eye, though not so grand as those on the south. Here the main body encamped. The light-troops proceeded farther on-one column on the bank of the Susquehannah, and another on the bank of the Tioga. Having advanced a mile and better, our [the light-corps'] tents were pitched from river to river-judged to be about 200 yards. Just below our encampment we took a view of the Indians' carrying- place, thirteen yards across ; so called from their carrying or dragging their canoes from river to river to save themselves the trouble of paddling round the neck [point]."

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A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume II, Part 114

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press Number of Pages: 680

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press
Number of Pages: 680